Unexpected Bachelorette Tragedy
Tyrese Haliburton's Fiancée's Friend Makenzi Kern Dies Unexpectedly During Bachelorette Trip
Key Points
Jones and Haliburton became engaged in July 2025, when Haliburton proposed “at Iowa State’s Hilton Coliseum,” according to US Magazine.
Jones posted specific Instagram captions during the trip, including “Hali Ever After!!!!! stay tuned xx” on June 2 and “Hopped on a flight to cloud 9” on June 6, before learning of Kern’s death.
Kern’s obituary described her enjoying high-adrenaline activities in St. Barts—family said she “loved boating with her dad, water skiing,” and “got to try out a seabob for the first time,” with friends “hav[ing] to drag her off because she loved it so much.”
Reporting indicates Kern died just two days after her 26th birthday, with the articles noting the birthday occurred around the time of the June 6 photos/posts.
The obituary also emphasized Kern’s close bond with her pets, saying she was dedicated to “her beloved pets; especiall[y] her cat Dusty,” and that she “never want[ed] to let anyone down or upset them,” per the New York Post.
Makenzi Kern, 26, died suddenly on June 8 during a bachelorette trip to St. Barthélemy, just two days after celebrating her birthday on the island. Kern was part of the bridal party for Jade Jones, fiancée of Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton, when she passed away from what TMZ Sports described as "health complications" shortly before the group was set to fly home.
Kern's family released a statement saying they "do not suspect foul play, drugs, or alcohol" in her death, according to Suggest. No official cause has been made public. Kern was surrounded by her closest friends when she died, the family said — on what they called "a once-in-a-lifetime trip."
A Bachelorette Trip Turned to Tragedy
Jones and her friends arrived in St. Barts on June 2. Jones posted to Instagram with the caption "Hali Ever After!!!!! stay tuned xx," per Sportskeeda. The group enjoyed boating, beach days, and pool parties over the following days. On June 6 — Kern's 26th birthday — Jones shared photos with the caption "Hopped on a flight to cloud 9."
Two days later, Kern was dead. The group had been planning to return to the United States when she passed, according to The Spun. Neither Jones nor Haliburton has issued a public statement. Haliburton had proposed to Jones in July 2025 at Iowa State's Hilton Coliseum, per US Magazine.
Who Makenzi Kern Was: Far More Than a Footnote
Kern was born on June 6, 2000, in Council Bluffs, Iowa. She earned a degree in Human Development and Family Studies from Iowa State University in 2022. She and Jones had been close since their days cheering together for the Iowa State Cyclones. At the time of her death, Kern was working as Membership Director at the Armbrust Branch of the YMCA of Greater Omaha, according to Hindustan Times.
Her family's obituary, published June 14 by Hoy-Kilnoski Funeral Home and shared by Legacy.com, described her as a "silly, goofy soul" who "lived life to the fullest." She loved boating with her dad and water skiing. In St. Barts, she tried a seabob — an underwater scooter — for the first time. Friends "had to drag her off because she loved it so much," the obituary said. She also left behind a cat named Dusty, whom she adored.
Family Rules Out Foul Play, Cause Stays Private
Kern's parents, Teri Dietchler and Chris Kern, addressed the circumstances of her death directly in the obituary. They said she died from health complications and stressed there was no foul play, drugs, or alcohol involved, according to Suggest. The specific medical cause has not been disclosed publicly.
The family's statement helped quiet speculation online. TotalProSports noted that the typical "speculation culture" around celebrity-adjacent stories was largely absent, given how clearly the family addressed the circumstances. The obituary said Kern "never wanted to let anyone down," and that trait defined how people remembered her — at the YMCA, on the cheerleading squad, and among her friends in St. Barts.
Media Coverage Drew Criticism for Centering Haliburton
When TMZ Sports broke the story on June 15, its headline focused on Haliburton's name rather than Kern's. Critics on social media quickly called the framing "disrespectful" and "despicable," arguing the outlet used the NBA star as clickbait to cover a private tragedy, according to The Spun.
Local outlets told a different story. Biographical reporting from Legacy.com and community sources focused on Kern's career and her roots in Iowa and Nebraska — framing her as a community leader, not a celebrity-adjacent figure. Her YMCA colleagues noted her "unwavering dedication" and "compassion," per Sportskeeda. A memorial fund in her name has not been confirmed but is considered likely by those close to her family.
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